Rants in my pantshttp://arianek.com/taxonomy/term/26/all
enI'm not going to get betterhttp://arianek.com/im-not-going-get-better
<div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2 class="title"><a href="/im-not-going-get-better">I&#039;m not going to get better</a></h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-arianek-byline field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Posted in <a href="/category/health">Health</a>, <a href="/category/chronic-illness">Chronic illness</a>, <a href="/category/healthcare-system">Healthcare system</a>, <a href="/category/life-chronic-illness">Life with chronic illness</a>, <a href="/category/rants-my-pants">Rants in my pants</a> on Wednesday, November 2, 2016</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="Ariane sitting at window" src="/sites/arianek.com/files/arianek-greydress800.jpeg" /></p>
<p><strong>Here's a truthbomb for you: I'm not going to get better.</strong></p>
<p>Before you jump in with a barrage of platitudes, please just check your healthy privilege. This isn't about the "what-ifs" and the "maybe somedays". This is about reality, this is about <em>my</em> reality. And if I sound angry, it's because I <em>am</em> angry, and I bloody should be.</p>
<p>This is about looking at what has happened so far, and predicting what will happen in the coming years based on reality. Every month I've gotten sicker. Since five years ago, when I was still able (albeit, with difficulty) to work 30 hours a week, keep myself fed, and keep my home respectably in order all on my own, things have gone so far downhill I can't even see where I started anymore. I can't do any of that now. I can't work. I can't take care of myself or my home without help. I'm no longer financially independent. I can't go most places on my own, and I can't go anywhere without a mobility aid. I can't travel (the two small attempts have been miserable failures). And I've lost a significant chunk of my prime career building, not to mention childbearing years, to chronic illness that has continued to go un(der)-diagnosed. Yes, I cope. I try and make the most of things. But the reality is <em>crushing.</em></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-node-link field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/im-not-going-get-better" class="">Read more...</a></div></div></div>Wed, 02 Nov 2016 20:37:35 +0000arianek1019 at http://arianek.comApologies gone astrayhttp://arianek.com/apologies-gone-astray
<div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2 class="title"><a href="/apologies-gone-astray">Apologies gone astray</a></h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-arianek-byline field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Posted in <a href="/category/random-blather">Random blather</a>, <a href="/category/rants-my-pants">Rants in my pants</a> on Tuesday, October 7, 2014</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>This morning I read this <a href="http://www.xojane.com/diy/but-what-if-youre-wrong-5-rules-for-apologizing-like-a-grownup">article on xoJane about apologizing</a>. The part that stuck out at me wasn't the main point of it, though:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>Our reluctance to say sorry when we’ve been wrong often causes more harm than our original offense. We argue, we gaslight. We force the person we’ve harmed to justify, over and over again, their right to feel hurt by our actions, and then we still deny them that. We make them the enemy, we become the injured party. We demand apologies for having to think of ourselves as less than good people. And we don’t learn.</em> - Ijeoma Oluo </p>
</blockquote>
<p>I only learned the term <a href="http://counsellingresource.com/features/2011/11/08/gaslighting/">gaslighting</a> more recently, but the phenomenon is familiar. It's something I've lived through over and over. From when I was somewhere around five years old, my feelings were not only invalidated, but I was made to feel like I was crazy, overreacting, too sensitive, too emotional... When I got picked on, harassed, and bullied, I'd get upset - I'd try and stand up for myself, but beneath the surface I was internalizing all of it. Eventually I would crumple emotionally, and run away to cry my face off.</p>
<p><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2944/15149424189_573f0ff819_z.jpg" /></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-node-link field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/apologies-gone-astray" class="">Read more...</a></div></div></div>Wed, 08 Oct 2014 00:51:28 +0000arianek979 at http://arianek.comBrief thoughts on the internethttp://arianek.com/brief-thoughts-internet
<div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2 class="title"><a href="/brief-thoughts-internet">Brief thoughts on the internet</a></h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-arianek-byline field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Posted in <a href="/category/technology">Technology</a>, <a href="/category/random-blather">Random blather</a>, <a href="/category/rants-my-pants">Rants in my pants</a> on Wednesday, October 1, 2014</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>I've been pondering recently...</p>
<p>Social media makes life - even personal life - oddly impersonal. We click "like" and feel like we've REALLY supported someone (emotionally, or in their work), instead of actually giving real tangible support. For example, someone is fundraising for a project or a charity, or showing their artwork, and we click "like" and feel like we did something good to support them, when really we did nothing. We no longer feel any obligation to actually put our energy or money where our mouth (or mouse?) is. We don't really show up for people.<br />
We post our thoughts and feel like we're actually talking to people, but when we read people's posts, we feel like they weren't really trying to communicate with us. So few people will actually respond to a meaningful or heartfelt post in any earnest or genuine way. We'd rather assume it wasn't for us, or maybe we feel uncomfortable, and we decide it's best to do nothing.</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-node-link field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/brief-thoughts-internet" class="">Read more...</a></div></div></div>Wed, 01 Oct 2014 21:41:15 +0000arianek976 at http://arianek.comPretty/Sick: how chronic and mental illness affect our body image and complicate beautyhttp://arianek.com/prettysick-how-chronic-and-mental-illness-affect-our-body-image-and-complicate-beauty
<div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2 class="title"><a href="/prettysick-how-chronic-and-mental-illness-affect-our-body-image-and-complicate-beauty">Pretty/Sick: how chronic and mental illness affect our body image and complicate beauty</a></h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-arianek-byline field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Posted in <a href="/category/health">Health</a>, <a href="/category/chronic-illness">Chronic illness</a>, <a href="/category/life-chronic-illness">Life with chronic illness</a>, <a href="/category/mental-health">Mental health</a>, <a href="/category/photos">Photos</a>, <a href="/category/rants-my-pants">Rants in my pants</a> on Friday, July 11, 2014</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Health is not binary. People who are chronically and/or mentally ill may indeed be "sick" (a term with a huge amount of complexity in its own right), but we are not on any given day A) sick or B) not sick. These conditions can be lifelong or last many years, going through flares and remissions. But we are not just "sick", we are <em>people</em> with hobbies, partners, friends, and if possible, jobs. Our illness(es) may feel all encompassing at times, but they are not <em>us</em>. They are only a part of us - people who are just as complex and nuanced as any. And yet, it seems at times that <strong>there are absurd standards, perceptions, and expectations about what someone who is "sick" looks like.</strong> This only exacerbates our already complicated relationships with our bodies.</p>
<p><img alt="BB Day 18 + 19" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/10367878454_d94bb23a91_n.jpg" /><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/arianek/14000621664" title="IMG_8603 by Ariane K, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_8603" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2937/14000621664_a13054e35b_n.jpg" /></a><img alt="IMG_7997" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2494/13047551943_32a2973cbf_n.jpg" /><img alt="IMG_7513" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3718/12258464553_11e43fc607_n.jpg" /></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-node-link field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/prettysick-how-chronic-and-mental-illness-affect-our-body-image-and-complicate-beauty" class="">Read more...</a></div></div></div>Fri, 11 Jul 2014 18:53:11 +0000arianek961 at http://arianek.comWinter art-makinghttp://arianek.com/winter-art-making
<div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2 class="title"><a href="/winter-art-making">Winter art-making</a></h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-arianek-byline field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Posted in <a href="/category/art">Art</a>, <a href="/category/photos">Photos</a>, <a href="/category/rants-my-pants">Rants in my pants</a> on Thursday, January 16, 2014</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Over the last few weeks and through holiday socializing, I had couple of interesting commentaries from people in my life about my art and wanting to do creative work. The comments were very different, and very entertaining and thought provoking... One essentially compared the idea of trying to do creative work for a living to wanting to get paid for being a professional slacker. The other, from someone who came by and saw a drawing I'd done recently, was shock and awe, as in: I know you doodled, but this is really good...like you can really draw!</p>
<p><img alt="" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5528/11878450166_a71ceb30be_c.jpg" /></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-node-link field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/winter-art-making" class="">Read more...</a></div></div></div>Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:31:23 +0000arianek934 at http://arianek.comJust say no Fridayhttp://arianek.com/just-say-no-friday
<div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2 class="title"><a href="/just-say-no-friday">Just say no Friday</a></h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-arianek-byline field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Posted in <a href="/category/rants-my-pants">Rants in my pants</a>, <a href="/category/spend-locally">Spend Locally</a> on Thursday, November 28, 2013</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Black Friday. It's that time again. A time of gratitude, turkey (in the US), and crazy purchasing mania that makes me nauseous. But I'll save you the lecture I really want to give about externalities, sweatshops, and consumerism. My Black Friday mantra? Just say no.</p>
<p>Ever since the one time I went Boxing Day shopping as a teenager, I will admit I've had a strong aversion to big sales and blitzes. The hungry crowds are too much for me. But nowadays even though the internet would let me easily avoid the mayhem, thanks to the blessing in disguise of a home with little storage space and the budget consciousness bestowed upon me by my health collapse, I've been working on being more conscious and conscientious about what I spend money on.</p>
<p>I like to make most decisions based on these factors:</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-node-link field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/just-say-no-friday" class="">Read more...</a></div></div></div>Fri, 29 Nov 2013 03:12:42 +0000arianek925 at http://arianek.comConnection doesn't happen over fluffhttp://arianek.com/connection-doesnt-happen-over-fluff
<div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2 class="title"><a href="/connection-doesnt-happen-over-fluff">Connection doesn&#039;t happen over fluff</a></h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-arianek-byline field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Posted in <a href="/category/rants-my-pants">Rants in my pants</a> on Friday, November 15, 2013</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>It was so timely that a friend posted this <a href="http://99u.com/videos/20052/brene-brown-stop-focusing-on-your-critics">short talk</a> by Brené Brown today, on not focusing on your critics. Just last night, while we were getting ready for bed, I said to Bruno, "If people think writing and talking about health problems and friendship changes and life challenges is so negative, why is it those topics exactly that I get such an intense response to?"</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/arianek/10737867675/" style="text-align: -webkit-center;" title="IMG_5040 by arianek, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5040" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3739/10737867675_8b0f985a5e_c.jpg" style="opacity: 0.9;" /></a></p>
<p>I've had a few people confront me over the last few years about being "negative" online - I'm sure a lot more than that have had the same thought. And I guess I can understand why some people might find talking about challenges to be a negative thing. Trying to have your life appear perfect to the outside world is pervasive, both online and off. Perfect and pretty is nice and everything, but the truth is that connection doesn't happen over the fluff. Not <em>real</em> connection.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-node-link field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/connection-doesnt-happen-over-fluff" class="">Read more...</a></div></div></div>Sat, 16 Nov 2013 00:29:22 +0000arianek922 at http://arianek.com#mama: It is a club, and I am not welcomehttp://arianek.com/mama-it-club-and-i-am-not-welcome
<div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2 class="title"><a href="/mama-it-club-and-i-am-not-welcome">#mama: It is a club, and I am not welcome</a></h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-arianek-byline field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Posted in <a href="/category/womens-health">Women&#039;s health</a>, <a href="/category/rants-my-pants">Rants in my pants</a> on Wednesday, October 23, 2013</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>There are so many posts I should write, I could write, but sometimes something just gets under my skin and I have to get it out. Regardless of who it may offend, though it's not meant to...</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/arianek/10448446686/" title="634f316e-a374-4d7c-bc69-7accde6c1c67 by arianek, on Flickr"><img alt="634f316e-a374-4d7c-bc69-7accde6c1c67" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3665/10448446686_c933fbd5f8_c.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>I keep seeing more and more communities, events, online projects, hashtags, etc. that are targeted towards women and branded with infinite varieties of "moms" or "mommies" or "mamas".</p>
<p>On one hand, I can understand that motherhood is a HUGE and identity changing shift in a woman's life. But I hope that the women who organize and participate in and promote these realize how in-your-face the exclusion of women without children it is.</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-node-link field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/mama-it-club-and-i-am-not-welcome" class="">Read more...</a></div></div></div>Wed, 23 Oct 2013 23:28:21 +0000arianek915 at http://arianek.comOMG you NEED this!!! (A rant.)http://arianek.com/omg-you-need-rant
<div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2 class="title"><a href="/omg-you-need-rant">OMG you NEED this!!! (A rant.)</a></h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-arianek-byline field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Posted in <a href="/category/rants-my-pants">Rants in my pants</a>, <a href="/category/style">Style</a>, <a href="/category/technology">Technology</a> on Monday, August 19, 2013</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>There's this thing I keep seeing on the internet, all over Instagram and peoples' blogs, and OMG YOU NEED IT!!!!!!!</p>
<p>At least, that's what you keep saying. It sounds like there is a gaping hole in your life that will be filled if only you can just obtain this magical object! "Where is that rug from??? I need it!!!" "I need that scarf!" "OMG I need those salt and pepper shakers." "I need one of those triangle rings!!!" "I totally need to get a pair of those shoes, I loveeeeeee them!"</p>
<p>People. Just stop it.</p>
<p>I know things are pretty or cool or trendy, and you want to express that. So please, search the depths of your vocabulary for another way to express your compliments and desires. It's really not that hard. </p>
<p>No, really. You do not NEED any of this stuff. </p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-node-link field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/omg-you-need-rant" class="">Read more...</a></div></div></div>Mon, 19 Aug 2013 23:38:26 +0000arianek911 at http://arianek.comHow to be friendshttp://arianek.com/how-be-friends
<div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2 class="title"><a href="/how-be-friends">How to be friends</a></h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-arianek-byline field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Posted in <a href="/category/friends">Friends</a>, <a href="/category/random-blather">Random blather</a>, <a href="/category/rants-my-pants">Rants in my pants</a> on Saturday, June 1, 2013</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>How to be friends. This is something that I thought I knew how to do. The last year upon the last five years has got me seriously doubting this... It turns out I most likely know nothing.</p>
<p>I recently got on the Lifeboat boat, they've been asking interesting questions and writing interesting stories about friendship. There's a lot packed into their <a href="http://getlifeboat.com/get-started/">Lifeboat Practices</a>... there's some real gold in there. There are also some <a href="http://getlifeboat.com/friend-blog/report13-findings/">harsh truths</a> they've unearthed, truths that make me realize at least I'm not alone in my struggles.</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-node-link field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/how-be-friends" class="">Read more...</a></div></div></div>Sun, 02 Jun 2013 06:18:53 +0000arianek823 at http://arianek.comWaiting...http://arianek.com/waiting
<div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2 class="title"><a href="/waiting">Waiting...</a></h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-arianek-byline field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Posted in <a href="/category/health">Health</a>, <a href="/category/ibs">IBS</a>, <a href="/category/random-blather">Random blather</a>, <a href="/category/rants-my-pants">Rants in my pants</a> on Sunday, March 14, 2010</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>I'm better than I was a couple weeks ago, but I am not well. Not yet. And the last two weeks, I pushed too hard, and now I'm feeling a bit worse again. It's so hard not to jump back in full on, into life.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I went to counseling this week for the first time in a while, I said I'd been struggling with a lot since getting really sick last month. Mainly, I am terrible about asking for help. And I am terrible at not pushing myself too hard once I start feeling better. I don't want to miss out on things, and I don't want to let people down.</p>
<p>My counselor asked me, so what? What is your greatest fear if you just stopped doing everything, and rested... And in all honesty, the only thing that came to mind, is if I stop doing everything I want and need to do, that I would feel like I don't exist. BAM. Biggest fear in life right there. Scares the bejeezus out of me even thinking about things like that.</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-node-link field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/waiting" class="">Read more...</a></div></div></div>Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:50:00 +0000arianek756 at http://arianek.comMy feet are buried in wet sandhttp://arianek.com/my-feet-are-buried-in-wet-sand
<div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2 class="title"><a href="/my-feet-are-buried-in-wet-sand">My feet are buried in wet sand</a></h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-arianek-byline field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Posted in <a href="/category/health">Health</a>, <a href="/category/ibs">IBS</a>, <a href="/category/rants-my-pants">Rants in my pants</a> on Sunday, January 24, 2010</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>And my head may as well be too.</p>
<p>I am officially failing at my <a href="http://westendgirl.ca/10-intentions-for-2010">intentions for 2010</a> the past few days. I have been feeling super frustrated and anxious, and generally out of sorts. Being that nothing in particular has triggered this, I am pretty inclined to associate it with not having felt too well again for the last couple weeks. I just don't recover well from any disturbances in the force, and it can take me weeks if not longer to get back to "normal" (whatever that is) after something goes off balance.</p>
<p>After randomly getting a really bad rash the week before, and then having a bad IBS flareup, I am feeling pretty run down emotionally and physically. And yet, the world keeps racing along, so I never feel like I can really stop and rest to a point where I actually feel rested. Just enough to keep trucking along and not totally fall apart.</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-node-link field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/my-feet-are-buried-in-wet-sand" class="">Read more...</a></div></div></div>Mon, 25 Jan 2010 02:44:08 +0000arianek747 at http://arianek.comDown with “dating”!http://arianek.com/down-with-dating
<div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2 class="title"><a href="/down-with-dating">Down with “dating”!</a></h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-arianek-byline field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Posted in <a href="/category/love">Love</a>, <a href="/category/random-blather">Random blather</a>, <a href="/category/rants-my-pants">Rants in my pants</a> on Saturday, September 12, 2009</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>I don't write too much about dating on here, because lets face it, Vancouver is a small city and everyone knows everyone, and that could just get awkward. But this is a pretty meta post, so I'm just gonna go for it.</p>
<p>I am done with "dating".</p>
<p>There, I said it. I've been single for the most part for the last 2.5 years, and at this point I've had my fair share of awkward first dates, and awkward few week to few month long "relationships." Granted, probably the first 1.5 years of that was that sort of messed up dating where I was still working through everything from the previous relationship and finding myself again. But the last year and a bit, I have really been in a frame of mind where if I met someone who was also in that place, and we hit it off I could actually see myself being ready for it.</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-node-link field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/down-with-dating" class="">Read more...</a></div></div></div>Sun, 13 Sep 2009 05:41:53 +0000arianek737 at http://arianek.comPlease tell me horoscopes come true?http://arianek.com/please-tell-me-horoscopes-come-true
<div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2 class="title"><a href="/please-tell-me-horoscopes-come-true">Please tell me horoscopes come true?</a></h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-arianek-byline field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Posted in <a href="/category/health">Health</a>, <a href="/category/random-blather">Random blather</a>, <a href="/category/rants-my-pants">Rants in my pants</a>, <a href="/category/work">Work</a> on Thursday, April 2, 2009</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><blockquote><p> <a href="http://freewillastrology.com/horoscopes/20090402.html"><em>Scorpio Horoscope for week of April 2, 2009</em></a><em> c/o Freewill Astrology</em><a href="http://freewillastrology.com/horoscopes/20090402.html"><em><br /></em></a></p></blockquote></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-node-link field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/please-tell-me-horoscopes-come-true" class="">Read more...</a></div></div></div>Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:07:55 +0000arianek724 at http://arianek.comTwo steps forward, one step backhttp://arianek.com/two-steps-forward-one-step-back
<div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2 class="title"><a href="/two-steps-forward-one-step-back">Two steps forward, one step back</a></h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-arianek-byline field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Posted in <a href="/category/food">Food</a>, <a href="/category/friends">Friends</a>, <a href="/category/health">Health</a>, <a href="/category/rants-my-pants">Rants in my pants</a> on Saturday, July 19, 2008</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Just when I started getting excited about everything that was going on, life gave me one more hurdle to jump--I thought I was on the upswing from the flu that I caught a couple weeks ago, but then Thursday night when I walked to the Safeway, I realized something just wasn't right. It's only six blocks or so, but by the time I got there I was exhausted and felt kind of like I had asthma, but it just wouldn't really go away. I went into work the next morning, but was still having the same feeling, and knew I had no choice but go to the doctor's. I headed over there on my lunch break, only to find out that I'd actually developed both a respiratory and sinus infection. Fun! I guess sometimes I shouldn't be so tough on myself thinking I'm a wuss for being tired and not getting better fast enough, sometimes it really IS just that I'm not better yet!</p>
<p>So the doctor prescribed me some antibiotics and I called work telling them I wasn't going to make it back in, and headed over to the pharmacy. Friends will know how much of a fan of swallowing pills I am, so I was not to thrilled to begin with, but sucked it up and choked down the first dose. The pamphlet about the antibiotics warned that it tended to irritate people's stomachs, but the pharmacist had said that there weren't really many options, so I just toughed out the bit of discomfort.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/arianek/2677971629" title="Awesome inhaler and evil, evil pills. by Ariane K, on Flickr"><img alt="Awesome inhaler and evil, evil pills." src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3014/2677971629_fdbfb0dc65.jpg" /></a></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-node-link field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/two-steps-forward-one-step-back" class="">Read more...</a></div></div></div>Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:01:01 +0000arianek684 at http://arianek.com